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Ukraine
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Ukraine crisis: Donald Trump praises ‘genius’ Vladimir Putin, says Russia wouldn’t threaten Kyiv if he was in power

  • Former US president Donald Trump showers raise on a top geopolitical rival of America
  • Russia is facing an international backlash after Putin ordered his forces into east Ukraine

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Donald Trump, then US president, and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in 2017. File photo: AFP
Agence France-Presse
Former US president Donald Trump on Tuesday hailed Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s aggression against Ukraine as “genius” but said the crisis would not have happened under the Republican firebrand’s administration.
During an appearance on a rightwing radio show, the hosts asked Trump about Putin recognising two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent.

“I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said: ‘This is genius’,” Trump responded.

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“Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine – of Ukraine – Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that’s wonderful.”

03:13

Russian leader Putin declares Ukraine’s rebel regions Donetsk and Luhansk ‘independent states’

Russian leader Putin declares Ukraine’s rebel regions Donetsk and Luhansk ‘independent states’

Russia is facing an international backlash after Putin ordered his forces into Ukraine to secure the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk rebel republics.

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